The unions SIPTU and TEEU have announced that they are "amenable" to re-entering the talks process on the second phase of the Sustaining Progress partnership deal.
In a joint statement, the unions said they had informed the Irish Congress of Trade Unions of their decision.
However, they said that on entering any negotiations, they will ask ICTU to seek a conference with the employers' body IBEC, to establish how employers propose to bring themselves back into compliance with the existing agreement, in light of the "disregard" for it displayed by Independent Newspapers.
The newspaper group declined a request from the National Implementation Body to have a number of issues relating to its current redundancy programme referred to the Labour Court for arbitration.
The statement added: "The unions' decision followed receipt of the reassurances as to the
Government's intention to honour its commitments with regard to workers' rights and interests in the context of change in the transport and aviation sectors, and its agreement to engage in discussions to ensure that workers' rights and interests in the wider economy are protected."
Both unions said they would insist that if negotiations resume, there would be no prospect of an agreement entailing any kind of pay freeze as suggested by the President of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, Mr Mark Staunton, today.
SIPTU pulled out of the talks in March after comments made by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney.
She had said the PDs' participation in Government would be in question if the Coalition failed to liberalise bus routes and break up Aer Rianta. These moves are vigorously opposed by the unions.